Darlington Watson, a 30-year-old man, was stoned to death by rival cult members on Wednesday evening in the Agudama-Epie town of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, while the continuing cult conflict between the Greenlanders and Bobous raged on.
It was gathered that Darlington, a member of the Greenlanders cult group, was dragged from a moving tricycle before being stoned to death by the rival group.
Several people have died in the continuing cult battle between the Bobous and the Greenlanders over control of the new transport terminal in the Igbogene town on the outskirts of Yenagoa.
An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The boy was in a tricycle (keke) when suspected members of a rival cult group stopped the vehicle, dragged him out, and brutally assaulted him with sticks and stones until he succumbed to his injuries and gave up the ghost.
“The incident occurred around 5:15 pm on Wednesday, opposite one of the Pentecostal churches at Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa.”
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased’s family had already taken the corpse for burial, and the assailants fled the scene before police arrived.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident on Thursday and advised young people against joining cults or criminal groups.
The police PRO said, “Information at my disposal has it that yesterday (Wednesday) at about 1900 hours, the Divisional Police Officer led the patrol team to the area.
“Bobous and Greenlander cult groups were clashing at Agudama-Epie. In the process, one Darlington Walson, a 30-year-old from the community and a member of the Greenlander group, as well, was inflicted with machete cuts and stoned to death by the rival group.
“On arrival at the scene, the family of the deceased had evacuated the corpse for burial. Investigation has been intensified to apprehend the suspects involved in the killing.”
